Shloka 19

Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Inquiry and Sañjaya’s Etymologies of Kṛṣṇa’s Names

Puruṣottama-nāma-nirvacana

Devanagari script

इन्द्रियाणां यमे यत्तो भव राजन्नतन्द्रित: । बुद्धिश्च ते मा च्यवतु नियच्छैनां यतस्तत:

Transliteration

indriyāṇāṁ yame yatto bhava rājann atandritaḥ | buddhiś ca te mā cyavatu niyacchaināṁ yatas tataḥ ||

Translation

సంజయుడు అన్నాడు—ఓ రాజా, ఆలస్యం విడిచి అప్రమత్తుడవై ఇంద్రియనిగ్రహంలో నిమగ్నుడవు. నీ బుద్ధి లక్ష్యము నుండి జారిపోకుండా, యథాశక్తి దానిని నియంత్రించు; అది సత్పథం నుండి తొలగనీయకు.

Word by Word

• इन्द्रियाणाम्: of the senses
• इन्द्रियाणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Plural

• यमे: in restraint/control
• यमे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• यत्तः: restrained; self-controlled
• यत्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भव: be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• अतन्द्रितः: unwearied; vigilant
• अतन्द्रितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• बुद्धिः: intellect; understanding
• बुद्धिः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• ते: of you; your
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: त्वद्
• Form: Genitive, Singular

• मा: do not (prohibitive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा

• च्यवतु: let it not slip/fall away
• Type: Verb
• Root: च्यु
• Form: Imperative, Third, Singular

• नियच्छ: restrain; control
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-यम्
• Form: Imperative, Second, Singular

• एनाम्: this (her/it) (i.e., the intellect)
• एनाम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• यतः: so that; because; from which
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत

• ततः: therefrom; thereby; from that
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत

• राजन्: O king
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• King (Dhṛtarāṣṭra)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches disciplined vigilance: restrain the senses (indriya-nigraha) and keep the intellect steady on its proper aim, using every available means so that judgment does not deviate into negligence, passion, or error.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva’s tense pre-war deliberations, Sañjaya addresses the king (Dhṛtarāṣṭra), urging him toward alert self-mastery—an ethical counsel meant to steady royal decision-making at a critical moment.